03/12/2023 Worship Service & Sermon: Elijah Comes First - Matthew 17:9-13

/ Brick Lane Community Church/

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3/12/2023 Worship Livestream from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Worship Leader: Steve Boyer
Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: Matthew 17:9-13
Title: Elijah Comes First

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Notes:

1. The hard thing Jesus commanded

2. The problems raised by His words (Malachi 4:5-6)
A. Malachi predicted: Elijah would precede the Messiah
B. Malachi predicted: Elijah would bring restoration to the world

3. How Jesus addresses these problems
A. Regarding Elijah coming before the Messiah
B. Regarding Elijah restoring all things
C. Regarding the disciples' view that Jesus' death was incompatible with Elijah coming
D. How this applies to Jesus as the Messiah

4. Lessons
A. The reliability of Scripture is not tied to our understanding it
B. Not all interpretation is literal
C. Jesus and His followers bring salvation through suffering

#Matthew #Elijah #Jesus